Cities4PEDs Atlas_November 2021.pdf

the network, the SPV of Ecopower and Veolia
will cover the investments for installation. The
aim in Eeklo is to cover 60% of the city with
district heating, while the potential from waste
incineration plants could cover the demand
of the whole city twice. Unfortunately, the
construction costs of district heating are very
high: 750.000 - 1.000.000 €/ km district heating
pipes, therefore a high connection density is
important. A heat source map of the whole
city now shows under which price-scenario’s
which areas can be connected to the district
heating, when this would be possible. But also,
in which areas they will probably need to look
for different, more individual solutions.
This will create an interesting question and a
conflicting situation: the collective solution
of a district heating network is cheaper than
the sum of all households buying a solar
boiler or heat pump so collectively you want
to promote the option of the district heating.
Stimulating individual solutions there would be
counterproductive in the areas where district
heating is a viable option. This would create a
lock-in scenario making the total district heating
impossible. But would it be just if the city would
only hand out premiums for solar boilers or
heat pumps in the outskirts to more upperand
middle-class homes in those residential
areas which take up a lot of space? Can you
differentiate premiums in the first place?
With the newest call for tender, the city wants
to open up all the roofs belonging to the city. An
analysis clearly showed that capital to invest
and a suitable roof for PV are necessities for PV
installations. Again, with the tested formula of
a public tender, the city of Eeklo wanted to use
the cooperative model to matchmake citizens
with capital, who want to invest in roofs of
people and organisations that didn’t had that
money but were happy to open up their roof
in return for cheap electricity. After all roofs of
public buildings were covered, a second phase
offering this to schools and small businesses
was started. In a third phase this would be
expanded to private houses and apartment
blocks. As no additional investment is needed,
it is also very interesting for rental homes and
social housing.
Learnings & Success factors
• Criteria in public procurement led to revenues which stay in the municipality and are still
financing the local energy transition.
• Cooperatives have two main effects: an increased acceptance for renewables and a direct
energy cut.
• A strong narrative to convince many citizens was to frame energy as a local product with local
added value, local ownership and local participation.
• The proposal of the citizen cooperative for locally produced renewable energy was implemented
by the municipality.
• When the development process started in 1999, inhabitants were sceptical but undecided and
there was no fixed opinion on wind energy with the advantage of politicians not being polarized
yet.
• Having one single point of contact was a crucial element for a high acceptance among citizens.
Working document
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